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We’re not in Kansas anymore, Shaun Micallef!

Shaun Micallef was decked out in his best Dorothy outfit when TV Tonight swung by the filming of Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation.

Shaun Micallef was decked out in his best Dorothy outfit last night for the filming of Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation.

It was a special Wizard of Oz themed episode when TV Tonight swung by for the mid-season finale.

Team captains Amanda Keller, Charlie Pickering and Josh Thomas were elborately costumed as the Tinman, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow, respectively.

Even some of the more enthusiastic audience members joined in the festivities by dressing up. That’s dedication for you -they don’t even make it onto camera.

During a filming break, Charlie Pickering explained he had no idea what this week’s Endgame would involve. The cast are made to leave the set while the final challenge is set-up by crew members, and return blindfolded so as to capture a genuine look of shock.

“They’re fiercely secretive about everything,” he said.

“We always try to guess what the Endgame will be. When we arrive if we’re walking through the car park and see three shiny new mistubishi cars we figure our challenge is something to do with driving. But we’re always wrong.

“The funny thing is we’ve been guessing it’s been going to be an ice sculpture since the first episode. Maybe it’s tonight. I don’t know. We never know.”

Pickering was paired up with Kate Langbroek, for this episode, but nominates Michael J. Fox as his dream Gen X partner.

“Early on I was pro-active about suggesting teammates. I was keen to get my comedy mates on. But the producers on this show really surprise me with who they book. They book such a wide variety of people that I’m always pleasantly surprised with who comes on,” he said.

“So I’ve learned to accept it because the surprise of someone I would never thought of is always a lot more fun.

“It’s a long shoot and there’s lots of chatting in between takes so I get to know a really wide range of people.”

Pickering juggles the Your Gen shoots in between his 7PM commitments, giving him the best of both worlds.

“Sometimes the records can go until 1 in the morning and I’ve got to be at the first meeting for 7PM to talk about the day’s news so that can be a little bit tiring. By the weekend I’m pretty crap.”


Gen Y team captain Josh Thomas was teamed with Sophie Monk for the Wizard of Oz special (watch for several Shawshank Redemption gags). He nominates Daniel Radcliffe to be his perfect player.

Even in their Dorothy and Scarecrow garb, Micallef and Thomas kept up their usual cheeky rapport.

“I don’t know if I actually believe him on air because off air he’s really nice. I don’t know if he’s being nice because no-one’s watching. But on air he thinks ‘I don’t want anyone to think I’m friends with this chump,’ so he mocks me,” he said.

“But I mock him sometimes too.

“He said in a radio interview that I was the son he never wanted, which I suppose is kind of nice. But then, I don’t know what it means, you’ll have to ask him.”

Amanda Keller was partnered with Hey Hey‘s John Blackman.

The mid-season finale will air in coming weeks.

12 Responses

  1. Sean Micallef….what can I say?
    Yes, very alluring! 🙂 Dorothy
    Josh is Josh…lovely, a clever young man.
    Amanda… as qiuck as ever, delightfully funny
    Charlie… A gentleman of much trivial knowledge!
    = Epic!!!!

  2. Michael hosted heaps of kids shows when I was in my teens, so like 15 years ago.

    He was great.

    Shaun Micallef is also great – loving his shameless plugs for a Logie 🙂

  3. Geoff -Michael has been warm up guy on several shows and i htink once acted on neighbours. He also once hosted a show called “the trivial video show” that was a national quiz show made in Brisbane. I was on it when i was 19 and totally embarassed myself but Michael was a really nice bloke.

  4. I was fortunate enough to be at this taping last night and what a great night it was. Both Josh Thomas & Shaun Michallef really keep the audience entertained, along with the “warm up” guy during breaks of filming.

    That “warm up” guy looks familiar, do you know where I may’ve seen him before David?

  5. “mid-season finale” …. David, I know you’re dealing with the sordid world of television, but let’s not abandon good English usage in the process.

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